Ursula Von der Leyen has announced she will run for a second term as European Commission President following months of speculation.
She is hoping to become the lead candidate for the European People’s Party (EPP) for the European elections, taking place in June.
The European Commission President made the announcement at an event held by her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) Party today in Berlin.
She is expected to run her campaign on a platform of increased defence spending for the EU.
Ursula Von der Leyen has announced she will run for a second term as European Commission President following months of speculation
PA
Speaking in Berlin, she said: "We must defend against divisions from within and from outside.
"I am sure that we have the strength to do so, and that is the task that I have set for myself."
She also unveiled plans to "install a commissioner for defence" if she wins a second term.
Von der Leyen said: "And where he or she is coming from - this is open but of course I think it's very important for the central and eastern European countries to have good portfolios and this is a good portfolio."
Explaining her decision to run, the EU Commission President said: “I ran in 2019 because I firmly believe in Europe. Europe is home to me.
The European Commission President made the announcement at an event held by her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) Party today in Berlin.
PA
"And when the question came up back then as to whether I could imagine becoming president of the European Commission, I immediately said ‘yes’ intuitively.
“Today, five years later, I am making a very conscious and well-considered decision: I would like to run for a second term."